Kerry defeated Tipperary by 2-14 to 1-11 in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Final on Sunday July 5th at Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney.

Munster MFC Final: Kerry ease to victory

ELECTRIC IRELAND MUNSTER MFC FINAL: KERRY 2-14 TIPPERARY 1-11

Report for GAA.ie

Kerry are Munster minor champions for the third year in a row after a convincing victory over Tipperary in Killarney on Sunday.

Conor Geaney hit 1-5 to inspire the Kingdom to victory, and Jack O’Connor’s side always looked the likelier winners, having led 2-8 to 0-6 at the interval following first half goals from Geaney and Cormac Linnane. Geaney struck the first goal after just nine minutes, finishing well after a slick team move, and then five minutes later Geaney set up Linnane to make it 2-6 to 0-3 with just 15 minutes gone.

The Tipperary Minor Football team to play Kerry in this Sunday’s Munster MF Final shows four changes from the team that played Clare in the semi final. Tadhg Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers), Liam Fahy (Rockwell Rovers), Aiden Buckley (St Patricks) and Alan Tynan (Inane Rovers) all come in for Mark Keheo, Jack Delahunty, Ross Peters and the injured Stephen Quirke.

The Kerry Minor Football Team to play Tipperary in the Electric Ireland Munster GAA Minor Football Championship Final on Sunday shows two changes in personnel from the side that defeated Cork in the semi final. Andrew Barry comes in for the injured John Mark Foley at midfield and up front, Michael Foley replaces Bryan Sweeney who was an early injury victim against Cork. Sweeney is named among the substitutes.

Kerry are making their 4th consecutive appearance in the Munster Minor Football final and seeking a third championship title in a row. Kerry are the last team to win 3 in a row having done so as part of their 2001 to 2004 four in a row. Cork are the only other county to win 3 in a row having done so most recently between 1991 and 1993. Tipperary had an opportunity for 3 in a row in 2013 when they were defeated in the Munster final by Kerry.

Munster teams have secured just 3 All Ireland titles since the turn of the Millenium – Kerry (2014), Tipperary (2011) and Cork (2000).

Kerry and Tipperary have shared the last 4 Munster minor football titles between them with Kerry winning in 2013 and 14 and Tipperary in 2011 and 12.

Both teams scored 0-16 in securing one point semi-final victories.

The last Munster final meeting between Tipperary and Kerry was in Fitzgerald Stadium in 2013 when Kerry won by 0-15 to 0-10. Tipperary defeated Kerry by 2-14 to 1-14 in the 2012 final in Limerick.

Kerry’s top scorer is Conor Geaney with 0-9 from 2 games. Next are Cormac Linnane and Stephen O’Sullivan with 0-4 each. Tipperary’s top scorer is Jack Kennedy with 0-10 form 2 games and next is Brendan Martin with 1-6.

Since 1956, Cork and Kerry have won every Munster Minor Football title with the exception of 1984, 1995, 2011 and 2012 when Tipperary were successful.

Kerry have won 4 of their last 5 Munster minor titles by defeating Tipperary in the final. They defeated Cork in 2014 and Tipperary in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2013.

The Tadhg Crowley Cup was presented by Munster Council in 1990 to commemorate late Munster Council Treasurer. Tadhg was elected as Munster Council Treasurer in 1968 and served until his death in December 1989. A teacher by profession, he also served as Kerry County Board Secretary from 1955 until 1970. Tadhg was recognized as a specialist in organizing and handling styles and gates at Munster Championship games.

All Ireland Minor Football Championship

In the Minor Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry top the charts with 12 titles while Cork are tied for second with Dublin with 10 titles. Clare won the first All-Ireland Minor Football title in 1929 while Tipperary’s two All-Ireland successes at this grade came in 1934 and 2011. Between them Munster counties have accounted for 25 All-Ireland Minor Football titles, ahead of Leinster and Ulster (20 titles each) and Connacht (18 titles).